Hunger striking aboriginal elder Robinson meets with Valcourt

Raymond Robinson, the Manitoba grand elder who has been on hunger strike since Wednesday morning, is meeting with Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt.

Robinson, who joined Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence earlier this year in a liquids-only protest on Victoria Island in the Ottawa River, began a full-out hunger strike Wednesday in hopes of bringing the government to the table for what he described as “meaningful ‘Nation to Nation’ relationship and dialogue.”

Before entering the meeting at the Aboriginal Affairs office in Ottawa, Robinson said he was shocked that he had to go on a hunger strike to get this far, but said he would not stop until Prime Minister Stephen Harper agreed to meet directly with all First Nations, saying another meeting with regional chiefs was not enough.

“I’m willing to do it all the way,” Robinson said of his hunger strike. “My people have had enough. Idle No More has had enough… I’ve had enough.”

Aboriginal Affairs spokesman Jason Macdonald said in an email that Valcourt is “looking forward to meeting Elder Robinson and to talking about how we can work together to achieve our shared objective of healthier, more self-sufficient and prosperous First Nation communities.”

In a press release posted to Robinson’ website Friday, Robinson, who grew up on the Cross Lake First Nation in Manitoba, was said to be praying for the removal of new sections added to comprehensive First Nations funding agreements and “meaningful” dialogue” between First Nations and the federal government.

“Grand Elder Robinson also points out that Prime Minister Harper has not followed through on the commitments made in the January 11th meetings,” the release said. “PM Harper has not met with First Nations leadership ‘in the coming weeks’ as promised, nor did he send a representative from the PMO to the AFN’s Treaty Forum held in Saskatchewan last week.”

The funding agreements have been a source of discord in recent weeks. Among the provisions First Nations have objected to is a clause which elevates requirements imposed by federal legislation above the annual agreements signed by each First Nation — including laws passed after the agreements were signed.

Robinson said First Nations have been “blackmailed” into signing the deals for fear of losing their funding.